Can A Waiter or Waitress Afford Rent in Fort Collins, CO?
Rent-burdened — rent takes 61.3% of gross income.
Fort Collins rent: September 2026. Salary: BLS OEWS May 2024 (Colorado state estimate).
About rent and a waiter or waitress salary
Declared server pay (base plus reported tips) sits below the rent threshold needed for a one-bedroom apartment in most US cities, which is why the server workforce tends to live in shared housing. Actual tip income varies widely and can push real take-home well above the BLS figure, particularly in fine-dining and high-volume restaurants. At the national-average declared server salary, the 30% rule supports about $913 a month in rent. The per-city pages show which markets keep rent within that range.
Cheaper rent nearby
These Colorado cities have lower median rent than Fort Collins, which improves the affordability math on a waiter or waitress salary:
Compare with full rent data for Fort Collins
View full rent data for Fort Collins, CO →Frequently asked questions
Can a waiter or waitress afford rent in Fort Collins, CO?
Median rent in Fort Collins is $1,959 a month. A typical waiter or waitress in Colorado earns about $38,357 a year, which makes that rent 61.3% of gross monthly income. Under the 30% rule, the answer is no — rent exceeds the 30% threshold.
How much rent can a waiter or waitress afford in Fort Collins?
Using the 30% rule, a waiter or waitress salary in Colorado (~$38,357/yr) supports up to $959 a month in rent. Fort Collins's current median rent is $1,959/mo, which is $1,000/mo over the affordability threshold.
How many hours does a waiter or waitress work to cover rent in Fort Collins?
At an hourly equivalent of about $18 an hour, a waiter or waitress in Colorado works roughly 106.2 hours a month to cover Fort Collins's median rent of $1,959.
Where is rent cheaper than Fort Collins for a waiter or waitress?
Nearby Colorado cities with lower median rent include Brighton ($1,957/mo), Brighton ($1,957/mo), Firestone ($1,957/mo). Each shifts the affordability math materially on a waiter or waitress salary.